1. INFECTION CONTROL IN AN ANIMAL SHELTER
Rick Hayman

2. What is Infection Control?
Infection control is the discipline concerned with preventing the spread of infectious organisms
It is an essential part of an organisations policies
Infection control addresses factors related to the spread of infections
Animal to animal
Animal to staff and from staff to animal
Surface / device to animal and / or staff
Among staff / devices / surfaces (environment)
These processes include prevention by
Cleaning and disinfection
Barrier Hygiene
(operational, procedural, treatment / intervention)
Vaccination
Surveillance / monitoring / investigation

3. Definitions STERILISATION DISINFECTION CLEANING DECONTAMINATION
The process of rendering an object or environment free of all living organisms, by heat (dry or steam), irradiation or chemicals.
DISINFECTION
The process of reducing the number of micro-organisms to a level which is no longer harmful to health. This is generally achieved by use of chemical disinfectants.
CLEANING
The removal of contaminants including dust, soil, micro-organisms and the organic matter that protects them. Cleaning agents usually have a degreasing property. Always necessary prior to disinfection or sterilisation.
DECONTAMINATION
The process of rendering an object or environment safe by the removal of microbial contamination. This process will include methods of cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation.

4. Pathogen Category
Cat. 1 An organism that is most unlikely to cause disease
Cat. 2 An organism that may cause disease and which might be a hazard (campylobacter, Ringworm, Bordetella, etc )
Cat. 3 An organism that may cause severe disease and present a serious hazard. It may present a risk of spread to the community (Parvovirus, FCV, FIV, etc.)
Cat.4 An organism as Cat. 3 but where there is no effective prophylaxis or treatment available
(Rabies virus)

5. Where’s the risk? Animals from a variety of sources
carrying / incubating infectious
Shelter may have endemic organisms
Giardia, Ringworm, etc.
Animals subject to stress entering an organisation
Potential immune system impairment
Incubated disease
Increased susceptibility to disease

6. Key micro-organisms – Cat 3
Diseases and routes of transmission: -
CANINE PARVOVIRUS - OROFAECAL
Infected faecal matter and vomit (haemorrhagic Diarrhoea)
Can persist in environment for weeks
Highly resistant to most disinfectants and household cleaners!!
FELINE INFECTIOUS ENTERITIS OROFAECAL
caused by infection with feline parvovirus (FPV)
also known as feline panleukopenia virus

7. Key micro-organisms – Cat 3
Diseases and routes of transmission: -
FELINE HERPES / CALICIVIRUS
Cat-to-cat contact; touching noses, smelling rears, using soiled litter pans, sharing water and food bowls and even bedding
FIV, FIP, FeLv, etc.

8. Key micro-organisms – Cat 2
Diseases and routes of transmission (gastro-intestinal): -
SALMONELLA - OROFAECAL (Z)
Gastrointestinal spills, contaminated food, bedding and collars, etc
CAMPYLOBACTER - OROFAECAL (Z)
Contaminated water / food
GIARDIA - OROFAECAL (Z)
Infected faecal matter / contaminated water
Z = zoonotic

9. Key micro-organisms – Cat 2
Diseases and routes of transmission: -
RINGWORM - SKIN CONTACT (Z)
BORDETELLA BRONCHISEPTICA (Kennel Cough)

10. Routes of Transmission (VECTORS)
Environmental contact (Kennel / Cattery pen)
OroFaecal / Ingestion
Food, Water, Surfaces, Grooming
Inhalation
Skin Contact
Equipment / Device Contact
Beds, Litter Trays, Leads, Collars, Toys
Veterinary devices
Bedding

11. Holding the Fort PHYSICAL BARRIERS
ISOLATION pending CLEAR BILL OF HEALTH
Animal specific equipment, food and water bowls, leads, collars, etc.
Separate exercise areas 
OPERATIONAL BARRIERS
Do not relocate or allow movement into general populous for (X DAYS)
vigilant in identifying disease / regularly assess
Staff managing High Risk cases should not handle puppies / kittens 
TREATMENT AND INTERVENTION
New entrants to be Veterinary examined
Commence Vaccination course asap 
Treatments for parasitical infections?

12. SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures)
HOW, WHEN, WHERE, WHAT to clean??
Animal Change over?
Spot Cleaning?
Food / Water Bowls, Bedding, etc.
Veterinary Environment
HIGH RISK / INTERMEDIATE RISK?
Puppy / Kitten Block – Intake – Isolation
General Population / Re-homing
OUTBREAKS???

13. Some useful recommendations
Solid material should be picked up first
DO NOT HOSE OUT PRIOR TO DISINFECTION
All concrete runs should be disinfected daily
Spot cleaning?
ONLY where an animal has been resident for 7 days or more
Food and water bowls
Bedding
Foot baths or Overshoes?
Veterinary tables and worktops
Deep Clean or Maintenance Clean?

14. Maintaining Cleaning Equipment
Poorly maintained equipment and premises can become an infection control hot spot, if cleaning and disinfection is compromised

15. Maintaining Cleaning Equipment
USE OF WRONG COLOURS CAN ALSO TRANSFER INFECTED ORGANIC MATERIAL
Isolation to Rehoming
Intake to puppy / kitten??

16. Infection Control is often just being practical
Empty buckets, rinse and leave to air dry
Make a fresh solution of ANIGENE at 1:50 at the end of each block to keep brush heads disinfected
At end of day remove, rinse and leave to air dry
Regularly wipe Squeegee and soak in disinfectant trough of ANIGENE diluted at 1:50
At day end rinse, wipe blade and leave to air dry
Replace Mop head and wash in machine

17. What to look for in your chosen product?
The following should be paramount when choosing a disinfectant: -
A wide range of microbiological activity with supporting test evidence
Activity in the presence of organic matter
Compatibility with varied materials (metal, rubber, plastics, etc.)
Non-senstitising, non-fuming and safe to use
Cost economy with simple dilution ratios
Wide range of applications
Long shelf life in diluted format

18. Surface Disinfection Range

19. ANIGENE HLD4V Replaces Trigene Advance Available in:
1000 litre, 200 litre, 20 litre
5 litre and 1 litre Self-Dosing
500ml Trigger Sprays
Fragranced or Non-Fragranced
Dill, Apple
Lemon, Lavender

20. PROTOZOA / DEEP CLEAN Effervescent Chlorine Tablets
DEFRA APPROVED (GO 1 tablet / 1.7 Ltr water)
Bactericidal, Fungicidal,
Virucidal, Sporicidal
Effective against Protozoa
Giardia Lamblia in 10 mins (8mg / Litre)

21. ANIGENE HLD4V Available in: Large wipe – 200 wipes Alcohol Free
Suitable for the cleansing of surfaces, all objects, wounds and wiping of endoscopes prior to disinfection
ANIGENE Wipes are:
Bactericidal, Fungicidal, Virucidal
Mycobactericidal, Sporicidal
Non-irritant with a 2yr shelf life

22. AIRGENE FOGGING CANNISTER
An aerosol-based disinfectant independently tested to be:
Bactericidal
Fungicidal
Virucidal
Unique method of delivery
Additional process in infection control program for practice’s
Two sizes:
50ml – Up to 40c/m rooms
300ml – up to 150c/m rooms

23. VETGEL Alcohol Surgical Hand Rub 30 second hygiene prep
1 minute surgical prep
Faster action than soap scrubs
Available in 500ml and 1 litre cartridge
Waterless

24. CHEMGENE Alcogel
For long lasting skin disinfection containing 70% Ethanol
extremely effective on previously cleaned hands
The gel gently dries, inhibiting alcohol evaporation to maintain a long contact time for better disinfection results
Easy to use and ideal for "on the move" applications where soap and water are not readily available
Available in easy to use 50ml belt attached bottle
Swift hand disinfection between patients

25. Any questions?